Upon completion and commissioning the pipeline will provide:

• drought contingency supply to residents in the Southern Downs Regional Council towns of Warwick, Allora and Yangan, (and to Stanthorpe and Killarney, by carting); and
• a permanent water supply residents in the four Toowoomba Regional Council towns of Cambooya, Greenmount, Nobby and Clifton.

Staging the project is a practical, value-for-money decision. Updated water security modelling shows Warwick is no longer facing urgent drought risk. With water treatment systems and upgrades to the pumps at Leslie Dam, the dam’s usable water capacity has increased by 1700ML. Modelling indicates supply will meet the region’s needs for the foreseeable future. Staging ensures funding is prioritised to better meet the needs of the region. 

The new pipeline will connect to the existing raw water pipeline north of the Mt Kynoch water treatment plant, before travelling west around the perimeter of Toowoomba, and subsequently south towards the Toowoomba Regional Council townships of Cambooya, Greenmount, Nobby and Clifton. Within the boundary of Southern Downs Regional Council, the pipeline will travel south to the Warwick Reservoir near Leslie Dam, with a connection to Allora along the way.

Our team of expert engineers have been considering alignment alternatives for the pipeline along this route. While much of the pipeline will be located within the road corridor, there will be sections along the route where it will be necessary to traverse private property. In these areas, we will work closely with any affected property owners to ensure that impacts of the pipeline corridor are minimised.

The pipeline will be comprised of varying diameters (ranging anywhere from 350mm to 600mm) to ensure optimal water flow and pressure throughout the pipeline.

The pipeline will be predominately underground at a depth of approximately one metre (from the top of the pipe). There will be some sections, such as certain watercourse crossings, that may be located above ground.

At periodic intervals, valves may be installed to control the flow of water and maintain the integrity of the pipe. These valves could protrude above ground, or may be located in underground pits, depending on the location.

The project was referred under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water in September 2023 for assessment to ensure matters of national environmental significance are protected. The project will not proceed until approval is granted by the Australian Government Minister for the Environment. 

Mitigation measures are planned to minimise impacts associated with construction of the pipeline. 

These measures include but are not limited to: 

• an ecologically sensitive design that minimises the removal of native vegetation and fauna habitat 
• preserving ecologically sensitive areas 
• engaging suitability qualified persons to undertake pre-clearance surveys in areas where habitat removal is required 
• ensuring a fauna spotter/catcher is onsite during vegetation removal works. 

For additional background, the community can also access the PER by searching the project identifier EPBC 2023/09644 at the EPBC Public Portal website.

Seqwater is engaging with the relevant Aboriginal Parties to ensure that cultural heritage is managed appropriately, in alignment with our duty of care obligations. The project is being designed to avoid heritage impacts, wherever possible.

The pipeline alignment will primarily be situated in road or rail corridors, however sections of the alignment and some infrastructure sites will be located within private properties. This will require the acquisition of appropriate rights over these properties from landowners and rights holders.

Although the Coordinator General may have powers to compulsory acquire rights over these properties, Seqwater’s preferred approach is to purchase land and rights from landowners and rights holders through genuine negotiations and mutual agreement.

It is only in cases where these negotiations prove unsuccessful that compulsory acquisition measures should be initiated by the Coordinator General to secure the land required for the project.

There will be temporary impacts during construction. While construction impacts are yet to be confirmed, it is expected there will be temporary impacts such as noise, dust and detours. We will work to minimise impacts on the community, where possible.

Seqwater will update the community once a head contractor is appointed and a construction schedule confirmed.
 

The project is expected to support an average of 400 jobs for the duration of the project. 

If local businesses would like to tender for the project, lease register your details here: www.seqwater.com.au/toowoomba-warwick-pipeline-project-registration-form